Blackening Seasoning
Blackening Seasoning is the best way to add bold smoky and savory flavors to so many different cuts of meat AND vegetables! You can whip up this seasoning mix in just a few seconds with ingredients that you likely already have in your spice cabinet.
Blackening Seasoning
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of making my own seasoning mixes and keeping them pretty well stocked on my spice rack. They’re always just so much tastier (and cheaper) than the store-bought stuff! When you make your own spice mixes at home like Blackening Seasoning, you can ensure it’s got all of the flavor you want without the excessive sodium you don’t.
We all know and love the wonders of blackened meat, especially my personal favorite – blackened fish! Blackened fish of all kinds is a pretty common restaurant staple, and that signature smoky, savory flavor is primarily created by this very seasoning mix.
The best part? It’s SO easy to make. You just have to toss together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, and other bold spices to make this mixture.
Once you taste how good this stuff is, you’ll be sprinkling it on just about everything. While I tend to use it mostly on things like mahi mahi and the occasional batch of chicken wings, I’m also quite fond of sprinkling it on veggies before grilling or roasting them for some added flavor. The way that the flavors blend together so perfectly is just too good to limit to just fish!
How to Make Blackening Seasoning
Mix. Enjoy. Repeat!
- Mix. Measure all of your ingredients with care and place them in a bowl. Mix together with a fork or whisk until combined.
- Use immediately or store. If you choose to store your spice mix for later, do so in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dark place.
Ingredients in Blackening Seasoning
So, what’s in it? Just a handful of ingredients you probably already have! If you do need to go to the store, here’s what you’ll need:
- Smoked Paprika – Do NOT swap this spice out with plain paprika! It’s what gives the seasoning mix that classic smoky taste.
- Onion Powder – This adds just the lightest note of natural sweetness to the mix.
- Garlic Powder – Careful not to add too much! Garlic powder is pretty potent stuff.
- Kosher Salt – You can use flaky sea salt instead if preferred. I do not recommend using iodized salt, as it tends to lend a more salty flavor to mixes like this rather than enhancing the other ingredients like it should.
- Dried Herbs – You’ll need a simple medley of thyme and oregano.
- Black Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper tends to provide the most flavor.
- Cayenne – There’s not enough cayenne in here for this mix to really be considered spicy. However, you can add a little more if you’d like an extra kick of heat.
What’s the difference between Blackening Seasoning and Cajun seasoning?
Blackening Seasoning is actually quite similar to Cajun seasoning! They have a lot of the same spices. The only real difference is that Blackening Seasoning uses a little less cayenne pepper, so it’s more approachable for those who don’t love noticeably spicy food.
What is Blackening Seasoning?
Blackening Seasoning is a blend of spices often used in Southern cuisine when the cooking technique of “blackening” is used. Blackening simply means to coat chicken or fish with this spice mix and cook it until it’s very dark brown, almost black. It’s known for its very bold smoky and savory flavor.
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Get the Recipe: Blackened Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 ¼ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne
Equipment
- 1 bowl
Instructions
- Mix all of the spices in a small bowl.
- Transfer to an airtight glass container and store in a cool, dry place.